Challenge Grant Earmarked for Academic Scholarships and Support of Older Students

An anonymous challenge grant of $200,000 administered through the Marin Community Foundation will fund a record number of academic scholarships for eligible College of Marin students over the next two years and also will support lifelong learning for older students through the Community Education Emeritus College Program.

The anonymous donor established the Haddie Academic Scholarship Fund as a means of inviting other donors in our community to support student academic scholarships at College of Marin.

The Haddie Academic Scholarship Fund will benefit approximately 100 eligible College of Marin students with awards of $1,000 per student given over two semesters for college-related expenses.

We are very grateful to our anonymous donor for this extraordinarily generous gift to our students and we hope that others in our extended community will help us meet the challenge.

Donations to the Haddie Academic Scholarship Fund may be made through the College of Marin Advancement Office. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to contribute to the fund. Interested donors also may establish their own named scholarship as part of the Haddie Academic Scholarship challenge. More information about donating is available online or by calling Executive Director of Communications and Advancement Cathy Summa-Wolfe at (415) 485-9648.

Dean of Enrollment Services Diane Traversi sent the Haddie Academic Scholarship application information to eligible students yesterday. The deadline to apply is July 15, 2014, for students planning to enroll in the fall 2014 semester. The Haddie Academic Scholarship application form and more information are available online.

Lifelong learning students interested in College of Marin Community Education classes will also benefit from the anonymous donation. The donation provides $50,000 to establish the Haddie Emeritus College Scholarship Fund for older adults interested in enrolling in Community Education classes and $50,000 to offer additional free or nominal-fee Emeritus College classes.

The very first Korean Cultural Day at the Kentfield Campus last week was a tremendous success. Thank you to all of the individuals and organizations who helped to make it happen. The event included a moment of silence in honor of the people affected by the South Korean Ferry Sewol disaster. There was also a joyful celebration of music, dance, food, and culture, including the serving up of about 300 Korean kimchi hamburgers to faculty, staff, students, and community members. You can see photos of the event at the College’s international students Facebook page. This special event was co-hosted and sponsored by the Asian American Alliance of Marin, Marin Chinese Cultural Association, Associated Students College of Marin, Filipino Americans of Nor-Cal Organization, the Korean community, Marin Vietnamese American Association, and Dominican University Service Learning Program.

College of Marin’s baseball team won again last weekend in two games against Cosumnes River College (11-2 in game one and 3-2 in game two in 10 innings). They advance to the Super Regionals and will play Delta College this weekend in Stockton. This is the first time the Mariners have advanced to the second round of the California Community College State Baseball Playoffs since 1994! The games are scheduled for:

Friday, May 9, 2 p.m.

Saturday, May 10, 1 p.m.

Sunday, May 11, noon (if necessary)

College Library Calls For Gently Used Books, CDs, and DVDs

Faculty, staff, and administration are invited to donate gently used books, music CDs, audiobooks, and DVDs to the College library for possible inclusion to our collection. The items will bolster our offerings as we join MARINet this summer. All donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact the library at (415) 485-9656.

You have just one more weekend to enjoy the successful run of this light comedy—an irreverent, funny, and a wonderfully entertaining play written by Alan Ball (“Six Feet Under” and “American Beauty”). The show follows five reluctant bridesmaids and a male usher who hide out in an upstairs bedroom during an elaborate southern wedding. Each woman has her own reasons for avoiding the festivities. Unlikely bonds emerge, touching secrets are revealed, and hilarity ensues.

We will be welcoming prospective students and parents to the campus this weekend as part of our annual Outreach and School Relations program. The outreach team has been traveling to high schools to talk with students about programs and services at the College and help them apply. A testing coordinator and counselors have helped them develop student education plans and they are ready for College Success Saturday. The Saturday morning event is an interactive orientation for students and parents including a light breakfast; priority registration; English/Spanish parent orientations; campus tours; and meetings with faculty, staff, and student ambassadors. For more information email the College Career Specialists or call (415) 457-8811, ext. 7860

The spring concert features favorite works from the classical repertoire such as Bach’s playful and energetic Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 for flute, oboe, violin, trumpet and strings; and the beautiful suite from Pelléas et Mélisande by Fauré. The concert concludes with the cheerful and light-hearted Symphony No. 8, by Beethoven.

It is one of poets’ and composers’ favorite topics, in any style—the beauty of the flower. Our Advanced Recital students will explore the repertoire of art song, aria, musical theatre, and contemporary music to bring you a beautiful musical bouquet.

College staff and students are invited to learn more about a wide variety of health and safety issues that affect us on and off our campus at the College Police Safety Forum. The lunchtime event will include presentations on campus safety and how to deal with an active shooter, consequences of driving under the influence, wildlife safety, education and prevention of sexual assaults, and prevention of summer fires. Presenters include representatives from College Police, Alert U, California Highway Patrol, Marin Humane Society, Sexual Assault Response Team and the Novato Fire Department. A light lunch will be served. Individuals seeking special assistance to accommodate a disability may call the Student Affairs Office, (415) 485-9376.

COM faculty and staff are invited to this end-of-semester event to celebrate with our international students from all over the world. We will have student speakers, presentation of certificates and awards, and distribution of a collection of student writing, followed by an international potluck.

Grammy award winner Tony Lindsay of Santana and Juke Joint, a six-piece horn band, is joining the College Jazz Ensemble for an evening of classic soul and R&B. Don’t miss this dance-able show at the Seahorse.

The Groundwork of Organic Gardening; A Series For All SeasonsThis Saturday organic gardening workshop series is designed for beginning and seasoned growers alike. Each session includes classroom instruction and practical teaching at the certified Indian Valley Organic Farm and Garden at the College of Marin Indian Valley Campus, a partnership program with the Marin Master Gardeners. The May 17 workshop, with instructor Wendy Johnson, covers soil mixes, seasonal planting schedules, irrigation, pest management and disease control and harvesting. The October workshop, with instructor Liza Buckner, will include discussion about annual winter gardens, harvesting cultivated and native plant seed, dividing and propagating perennials and establishing a sound winter composting system. Participants may register for individual sessions or for the full series. Class size is limited to 35 participants. You may register online.

Brahms, the enchanting and the eternal, will be presented in this program of two of his most timeless works. The Liebeslieder-Walzer and Neue Liebeslieder-Walzer, his lavish Viennese settings of love poems of dalliance, affection, and unrequited passion, will feature guest vocal soloists Christa Pfeiffer, Katherine McKee, Colby Roberts, and Jeffrey Fields. They will be accompanied by pianists Paul Smith and Jeffrey Paul. A full orchestra will accompany the Marin Oratorio chorus for the majestic Ein deutsches Requiem. Brahms, the agnostic, spent years shaping this work not as a dogmatic and liturgical mass, but rather as a personal human requiem and solace for all humankind.

Our beginning singers have been working all semester preparing for their first performance. This is always an exciting experience, sharing the thrill and courage of singers stepping in front of a real audience. You will hear a lovely mix of folk songs and art songs, and maybe even a short aria as the singers are allowed to make their own choice from within the class repertoire. Come celebrate with us.

College Chorus: Songs of the SeaBoyd Jarrell, directorJeffrey Paul, accompanist

Ever since humans first set off to sea, music has been our constant companion: songs of travel, songs to assist our labors, and songs to remember our loved ones far away. Join College Chorus as we present our delightful survey of sea songs from around the world. Music of Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Mary Lynn Lightfoot, and Alan Ridout will be featured. Bon voyage!

You are invited to honor our students as they celebrate their transition from College of Marin to a four-year institution and the next stage of their educational and professional goals. The Transfer Recognition Reception is hosted by the Transfer and Career Center. Students are invited to stop by the Transfer Center with a copy of their acceptance letter. A catered reception will follow the ceremony. Please RSVP by May 15.

Come celebrate our students’ achievements at the 87th commencement exercises. Congressman Jared Huffman will be the keynote speaker. Sara McKinnon is the Faculty Grand Marshall. Your participation makes a great difference to our campus community as we honor the Class of 2014. For more information, visit our Commencement 2014 page.

The rich history of our Athletic Department is celebrated each year at the Athletic Hall of Fame banquet, which honors the student athletes and coaches who have contributed so much to the College. Get your tickets early to be part of the induction of our newest class:

The IVC Organic Farm and Garden Farm Stand is open every Wednesday rain or shine. Come by and select the freshest produce and flowers available. Please bring your own shopping bag.

Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Indian Valley Campus

Support COM Programs, Student Scholarships, Departments, or Special Projects Using Payroll Deduction

As a result of several requests from faculty and staff, the College Advancement Office is now accepting payroll deduction contributions for the support of departments, programs, student scholarships, and special projects. To start payroll deduction, please complete and submit a Payroll Deduction Form. If you would like to use payroll deduction to establish a student scholarship, please also complete a Scholarship Donation Form. For more information call the Communications, Community Relations, and Advancement Office ext. 7648.

Moodle Open Lab at the SMN Computer Lab

You are invited to ask questions, share with colleagues, or update your skills at the final Moodle Open Lab of the semester. For the latest schedule of upcoming and archived trainings, visit the Faculty Support Services web page. No registration is necessary, just drop in. And, note, that there will be Flex Workshops for the New Moodle version (2.6) on August 13 and 14. For more information, call (415) 485-9540.

Thursday, May 15, noon to 1:30 p.m.
SMN 130
Kentfield Campus

Police Escorts Available for Staff and Students

The College of Marin Police Department offers on-campus escort services to walk staff and students to and from their vehicles and classrooms. To arrange for an escort, contact Campus Police Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at (415) 485-9455, call Dispatch at (415) 485-9696 to have police personnel contact you to make arrangements, or stop by the Police Department in building TB1 during normal business hours.

Evening Assistance

Evening public service assistants are available on both campuses Monday through Thursday. If you need assistance, please call one of the numbers listed below. For life- or property-threatening emergencies, call 911.

Track and FieldNor-Cal Finals
Saturday, May 10, all day in SacramentoState Meet
Friday and Saturday, May 16-17, all day in San Mateo

Memorial for Betty M. Wilson Will Be Held at COM Fine Arts Gallery

A celebration of Betty’s life will take place on what would have been her 94th birthday—Saturday, May 24, 2014, at 11 a.m. in the COM Fine Arts Gallery.
Betty was born in Fresno on May 24, 1920, to Elizabeth Beveridge Wilson and James Delaware Wilson. She grew up in Carmel and maintained a love of the Monterey Bay area her whole life. She died in her home in Ross on February 20, 2014.

Betty obtained her A.A. from Monterey Peninsula College and early in life followed an artistic path. Her initial work experience was in Holman’s Department Store in Pacific Grove where she used her creativity as a display manager. Her work at Holman’s was interrupted by two years of service in the U.S. Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) program from 1943-1945.

After the war she explored a colorful and creative education, including studying at the Academie Julian, Paris, France and the University of Florence, Italy from 1949 through 1951. On her return home Betty received her B.A. from California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, CA. From 1954-1968 Betty worked for an award-winning muralist, Donald Clever Designs in San Francisco, where she focused on graphics, color consulting, industrial mosaics, stained glass, and sculpture.

Betty earned her master's degree from San Francisco State University and in 1970 began a long and rewarding teaching career at College of Marin. She was an accomplished and versatile instructor and the courses she taught covered a wide subject range, including painting, drawing and composition, design, and interior design. For many years she served as the chair of the College of Marin Art Department. She also took time out on a sabbatical for classes at the San Francisco Art Institute and was a consistent attendee of summer painting workshops at the Mendocino Art Center.

Betty was a prolific artist, creating over 150 works of art, with incredible range of color and style. Her work was shown at the Burnaby Art Gallery in B.C. Canada, the Mill Valley City Hall, the Marin County Fair, and frequently at the Marin Society of Artists. Throughout her years at College of Marin, she contributed works to many of the annual faculty shows and was very proud of her One Woman Retrospective shows in 1998 and 2008.

Donations in Betty's honor may be made to the College of Marin Art Department or the Marin Society of Artists.

In Memoriam

Jerry Muehe of Rohnert Park, CA passed away at home on April 25, 2014. He was born in Albert Lea, MN on May 19, 1946, and moved at a young age to the Denver, CO area. After graduating from high school he served in the U.S. Navy for 4 years as an electronic technician and following his discharge in 1969, made the Bay Area his home. Jerry earned his master’s in psychology at Sonoma State University and retired from College of Marin in 2003 after 22 years as a video communication specialist. In his retirement he enjoyed home improvement projects, bowling, traveling, and having Wednesday lunches with his retired friends from College of Marin. Jerry was predeceased by his daughter Rhea and is survived by his loving wife Angela; son-in-law John Beltz; and his grandsons Liam, 12 and Aiden, 9 of Lodi, CA. Services will be held at St. John's in Ross on May 24, 1 p.m. with a memorial gathering to follow at Samuel P. Taylor Park in the Redwood Grove site in Lagunitas from 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. The family has asked that donations be made to Guide Dogs for the Blind, San Rafael in Jerry's name in lieu of flowers.

Submissions to the Weekly Briefing

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College of Marin is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is one of 112 public community colleges in California. Approximately 11,000 credit and noncredit students enroll annually.